Translation and communication for development: the case of a health campaign in Zambia

ABSTRACT

Translation is traditionally defined as linguistic equivalence between two languages, but this is a reductive conceptualization that ignores how a cultural context can shape the translation process. Drawing from both translation studies and development studies, this paper discusses translation beyond interlingual transfer and considers how the concept changes in the developmental context in Africa in particular. Using as an example the First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme, a Zambian health campaign aimed at disseminating information on health and nutrition for mothers and children, this paper explores the use of other types of translation and how non-traditional translators act as mediators to convey messages intralingually and intersemiotically.

KEYWORDS:

• TS
• translation and development
• intersemiotic translation
• intralinguistic translation
• sub-Saharan Africa
• public health communication
• Zambia
• first 1000 most critical days programme

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Although Haynes (2008) includes culture as one of the key dimensions of development, it should be noted that, from a translation perspective, African countries are considered developing nations only on account of their weaker economies and political structures and lower standards of living. The nexus of intercultural transfer, language, and culture cannot be considered as key dimensions of development as this would suggest that the languages and cultures of the developing world are less developed than those of the developed world.

2. The Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies began publication only in 2009.

3. UNDP – United Nations Development Programme; UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund; UNAIDS – Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund; CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4. UNWomen – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

5. UNECA – United Nations Economic Commission for Africa .

6. Most of the source information originates from global health organizations such as WHO, UNICEF and SUN, as well as scientific, scholarly, peer-reviewed publications (e.g. The Lancet).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mwamba Chibamba

Mwamba Chibamba is a researcher whose interests include translation in Africa, International development, and international affairs. She completed a doctorate in translation studies at the University of Ottawa, a masters in terminology and translation at Laval University and a bachelor's degree in library and information studies at the University of Zambia.